Thursday, April 21

Taiwan is an independent Nation

Am I the only person on the planet who knows this?

The only reason Taiwan is still an issue is because countries will not acknowledge this. Taiwan is not independent but the US sells military weapons to it? Does this mean that the US is selling weapons to China? Of course not, so what does this mean?

Background: “In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan. Taiwan reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1946 constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the native population within the governing structure. In 2000, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, the island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be the relationship between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of eventual unification - as well as domestic political and economic reform.”

The country has a President and Vice-President. Ruling positions that do not exist in Communist China. These positions are filled through elections held every four years.

The CIA lists that 25% of Taiwan’s exports are to China.

Taiwan has a separate currency than China.

Taiwan has its own Military.

The CIA summary has a chapter “International Disputes”

“involved in complex dispute with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei over the Spratly Islands; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; Paracel Islands are occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; in 2003, China and Taiwan asserted claims to the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Tai) with increased media coverage and protest actions”

Now lets compare Taiwan’s situation with that of Hong Kong.

Background: “Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. In this agreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.”

The CIA lists Hong Kong as a “Special administrative region of China” There are no special notations for Taiwan.

The US Sate Department has Taiwan on the list of “Independent States in the World.” It is listed in the ‘other’ category, but it is listed as an independent state with the following footnote:

“Claimed by both the Government of the People's Republic of China and the authorities on Taiwan. Administered by the authorities on Taiwan.”

So in other words Taiwan is an Independent State that China claims as theirs. This is hardly in line with the claims of the Chinese Government. Nor in line with the "one country, two systems" formula being used for Hong Kong.

Just to clear any doubt on my assertion that Taiwan is an independent country, one can look at the US Sate Department’s “Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty.” To get an idea, here are some ‘countries’ that are not independent:

Aruba (Netherlands)

Bermuda (UK)

Cayman Islands (UK)

Gibraltar (UK)

Greenland (Denmark)

Hong Kong (China)

Puerto Rico (United States)

China is becoming a stronger military power and with that has been more aggressive. They have demanded that the EU drop its embargo against selling military weapons to them, calling it racist. Passing a law to permit military force against Taiwan if it declares independence. Take the position opposite the US in the Security Council.

Should the US position change and formally recognize Taiwan. Just think of the benefits of this action. It puts China in its place. It provides justice to the Taiwanese people. It would also teach the French a lesson.

The French are most eager to stir the pot and Taiwan appears to be their best bet if forcing the US into a new conflict. How else can we view this? Why would the French Premier support China’s new law authorizing the use of military force against Taiwan to prevent independence? Why was there no protest or calls for the use of only peaceful means to resolve this long-standing situation? Why is there no demand that the Security Council first approve any use of force?

French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said he supported Beijing's "anti-secession" law on Taiwan, and vowed to keep pushing for an end to an EU arms embargo that could open the door for Paris to sell weapons to the Asian giant.

So the French position is clear. This was said just after the EU Parliament voted against lifting the EU’s arms embargo against China by 431 to 85. But the position of the French Government is to continue to push to end the embargo. Of course the French Premier was making his statement in China with completed deals worth over $3 billion in his jacket pocket. Lucky for the Chinese that some countries have no shame nor any care for the future problems their actions will create.

2 comments:

In October of 2009 the Formosa Nation Legal-strategy Association posted a new ebook on the internet which explains the history of Taiwan. This history is often understood. If you take the time to read this information, you will more fully understand why Taiwan is not an independent sovereign nation. See http://www.taiwanbasic.com/ebooks/trelation/preface/